English schools in Japan

Yokohama, Naka-ku

School:Yokohama International School

Quick Facts:
YIS has close to 700 students from over 40 countries and over 80 teaching staff from 14 countries
YIS offers a truly international curriculum with the IB Diploma programme, IGCSE, PYP and Reggio Emilia
YIS was founded in 1924 and is the second school in the modern era to use the word “international” in its title (Geneva International School was the first by a matter of days)
YIS is a non-profit organization
YIS graduates in 2004 attended a range of universities including Harvard (US), Waseda (Japan) and Durham (UK)
YIS has approximately one computer for every two students

Founded in 1924, and arising out of the spirit of internationalism that prevailed following the formation of the League of Nations in Geneva, YIS became a pioneer of international education. Today, more than forty nationalities are represented in our school community providing a rich cultural mix and an exciting environment in which to work towards the school's mission.

The challenges faced by our young people today, though different, are no less demanding than they were all those years ago. We seek to maintain the optimism and drive that existed at the school's founding and we continue to strive for excellence in our field. In doing so, we hope our students will be happy, successful and ready to take an active role in a changing world through positive contributions to society.

As an IB World school, our academic programme has enabled our graduates to attend many of the world's leading universities, yet YIS also strives to create an appropriate balance between the academic and the non-academic, both of which, we feel, are equally important for an education to be complete.

To this end, the school values not only academic excellence but the social and emotional development of our students. A broad, balanced and demanding educational programme is built upon a culture of clearly articulated values. In this way, we aim to help students fulfill their academic potential and form a strong sense of self and community.

YIS shares much with other international schools worldwide but is unique in many ways. The community spirit that that existed amongst the first group of parents who founded the school, amidst the ruins of Yokohama, following the devastation of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, is still very much part of our school community today. A genuine family-like atmosphere permeates the school to this day.